Syrian rebels attack Aleppo security compounds

Syrian rebels launched a major attack on security compounds in Aleppo.

Syrian opposition fighters swear for the liberation of Syria at an undisclosed location in the northern city of Aleppo on August 29, 2012. The battle for Aleppo, Syria's second largest city, has lasted for over a month, with the government forces unable to dislodge the rebels. (ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images)

A rebel group comprised of Syrian army defectors launched an attack against security compounds in Aleppo, as anti-government forces targeted air bases, activists said Friday, according to the Associated Press.

The AP noted that the news of the highly coordinated attacks by the Brigade of Free Syrians suggests the Assad regime's opposition is becoming more bold as the civil war continues.

A local rebel commander also said rebels controlled more than half of Aleppo, despite a month of fighting and aerial bombardment, according to Reuters.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, also said that the rebel assaults in Aleppo had resulted in government casualties, thought it gave no figures, according to Voice of America.

Major Anas Ibrahim Abu Zaid of the Fatah Brigade told Reuters, "If we hold our ground and continue the attacks, the longer we do that (the more) the regime will lose on the international, regional and local fronts, and the position of the rebels will firm up and give us a chance to re-arm."

The Syrian Observatory also said rebels and government troops were fighting north of Damascus and in Albu Kamal, on the Iraqi border, according to VOA.

Syria's neighbors appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help in dealing with the more than 200,000 war refugees flooding into Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.